Awakening the next morning inside a room, the young girl had never laid her eyes upon before and fear welled up inside tenfold. The walls were a painted white colour and the door frame was made out of silver columns.

A strange looking place indeed.

The room looked much more advanced than the tents they had back at home. This village had obviously kept up with the times in ways the witches never would.

For the truth was, the witches cared little for the world outside of them and the customs of others, choosing only traditional ways forward.

However, everything beyond the boarder was once a wonder and curiosity to her. Now that she actually lay beyond the limits of their land, and in enemy territory, she didn't feel quite as much wonder.

The fear was slowly creeping in among it.

The bed Alisa laid upon was a similar white colour and had a much too hard pillow for her head that only made it ache more.

She couldn't remember the last thing that she'd done before passing out, her memories far too hazy to sift through at a time like this.

"Oh wonderful, dear, you're awake."

The words startled young Alisa into a sitting up position as her blue eyes scanned the beautiful lady in front of her.

The woman had long, flowy auburn hair and light, kind eyes.

"Oh, sorry for startling you," the woman spoke up once more.

"But please lay back down, it would be detriment for your health if you were to move too suddenly," she added with a small, hesitant smile.

Alisa swallowed thickly as she stared at the redheaded lady.

"Here's some water, child. I'm Mabel, and it's very nice to meet you," Mabel spoke with a sweet voice, as if trying to lull Alisa into some form of false security.

As Alisa reached out for the strange glass of water, she kept her eyes trained on Mabel as if she were an enemy, she was trying to catch off guard.

Unaware of where she was or the last moments before waking up in a strange place, trust was going to take a lot longer for her.

"Can you tell me your name," Mabel asked as her fingers released the glass gently as she passed it over and Alisa began drinking eagerly.

It wasn't long before the bear-skin door moved aside and in stepped someone full of power. It radiated off him as if any were to disobey, the consequences would be dire for them.

He radiated the kind of power and control that caused Mabel to instantly bow her head in respect to her leader.

"Alpha."

Alisa's blue eyes widened as she began choking on the water.

Turning in a rush, the kind woman took the glass out of her hands and began patting her back lightly.

"Remember to swallow the water, child."

Alpha Ryker cleared his throat, "And what is the child's name?"

A look of uncertainty passed the healer's face as she looked between Alpha Ryker and the nameless pup.

"Alisa," the whisper came out raspy and uncertain from the small frail child.

But she knew her name perfectly, but she also knew better than to reveal too much to a werewolf.

"Alisa. What a beautiful name," Ryker commented, nodding his head. "Mabel relieve yourself of your duty here. I'd like to speak to the child alone."

"But that won't be safe for her - "

"No objections," he said sternly. "Know your place, Mabel."

"You always taught me health came before superiority," the somewhat defiant reply came.

With one look from Ryker, Mabel flew out of the room faster than humanly possible, regardless of the importance of what she had previously said.

Without feigning surprise, Alisa barely blinked an eyelash. She knew much more than she was letting on and it was becoming increasingly obvious to Ryker.

Slowly, the leader of the pack took a seat on the edge of the bed. Eyes downcast, he thought about his next words, in hope he wouldn't terrify the child.

Ryker licked his lips as his brown eyes met Alisa's terrified blue ones.

"Do you understand what occurred last night?"

There was a pause and then it was silent once more.

"Let's start with an easier question - Do you know where you are?" Ryker asked, his eyes scanning her for any scratches or bruises.

Anything that Mabel could've missed, not that she ever did.

She was the best healer they had.

There was one cut above her eyebrow that seemed to be slowly healing over time. In their world, rogues always healed slower than a pack wolf. Alpha Ryker hoped that her wounds would heal faster just by being on pack lands.

There was a pause and Ryker almost sighed before Alisa slowly, shook her head.

Eyebrows shot up as it finally dawned on him.

"This is Snake's Canyon. Far west of any village, for the safety of the people inside the boundary lines," he stated as he put his two hands together.

'And safer for those outside too,' the thought was brief but held merit.

"Are you aware that you have trespassed, Alisa?"

Alisa swallowed thickly before shaking her head once more.

"The law in our world is that any trespasser will be killed on sight. That is our given right."

The fear in Alisa's eyes only grew and he sighed, not wanting to scare the child off as she was still one of them.

The law also states that any werewolf in need would receive aid as they were the only help for miles. But if they were a threat, an attack would be quick.

"Do you understand why you have been spared?"

"No," the reply came back quickly as fear began radiating off her in waves.

She'd never been this close to the enemy before. She had only heard of their cruelty and their 'kill before think' mindset.

She had once wondered if they were just like the witches – terrified to the bone of others who are different.

Ryker thought for a moment as he struggled to find the right words.

"Tell me something, Alisa. Where are you from?"

There was silence once more, which only assured Ryker that she was indeed a rogue.

"Well, never matter where you're from. You will always have a home here if you decide you'd like to join us. We will heal your wounds, even if you choose to be on your way."

"Thank you."

"But I need to hear you say that you understand what happened last night – that you are aware of what you are."

"What I am?" Alisa asked with a hint of panic in her voice. Ryker instantly went to soothe her, but she moved away.

"Alisa... what you're saying is that you have no idea what you are?"

There was a pause for another moment where both parties were too afraid to speak up again.

"Stop talking to her like she's an idiot, Father."

The voice came from the door way.

There in the doorway, stood Ryder, the next Alpha in line.

"How will I know if there is some kind of mental damage or trauma from the experience," Ryker replied back swiftly, ice lacing his words.

Ryder sighed, running a hand through his brown hair as he began walking towards them.

"Alisa, was it?"

Her nod was enough for him to continue.

"I am Ryder, this big old oaf's son," he joked, nudging over to his dad before speaking once more.

"Nice to meet you. I know you must feel overwhelmed at this time but we need you to be aware of what happened so you can understand where to go from here. Was that the first time you turned?"

Alisa shook her head once more.

Green eyes widened in shock.

"You've transformed before? Is that why you came to us?"

"No," Alisa said before clearing her throat. "I transformed on a full moon... I was confused. I still am. I don't know where I am either. I am lost."

Noticing a slight pause and change in story, Ryker's eyebrows lifted the fraction of an inch. He put a hand on his son's shoulder, stopping him from replying.

"You were not always one of us, though, correct?" Alpha Ryker asked, absolute certainty in his voice.

"Correct."

"But you were aware we existed long before you turned. Is that also, correct?"

"Yes," her answer came slow and hesitantly.

The wrong words could get her killed and wolves were known to smell a lie a mile away.

"How?" Ryder's whisper interrupted the staring contest the other two had been having.

"You guys are aware you're only supposed to exist in stories, right?" Alisa said, quickly fixing her mistake.

She must keep her witch blood a secret, if she ever hopes to leave here in one piece.

Ryder smiled a little cheekily, "Well surprise, sweetheart. We exist and now you're one of us."

"Ryder, that is not how you announce someone's species to them," Ryker scolded, shaking his head.

"Alisa, please understand we won't keep you here longer than necessary if you don't wish to join us. Your options are clear as day," he said slowly without blinking before continuing.

"Join us and learn to live in a pack along with us or be cast out with the rest of the rogues. If you choose the second option, please understand that if we ever meet again - we will attack on command."

There was a pause before Ryker stood up, ushering his son to follow him. Before exiting the make-shift hospital, he turned back to Alisa.

"Mabel will be back in a moment to check your vitals. Please have your decision made by the end of the next full moon. You have exactly one month. Please choose wisely," he said before leaving the room with Ryder in toe.

He snuck one last look in back before the two disappeared through the bear skin-shaped door.

"Really? Those are her only two options? Join us or pretty much perish?"

"Yes. That is the way we live. And you should know that, son. Now let others know that Alisa will be trialling life for a month before making her decision to stay or to survive life as a rogue. That is all, Ryder," he said, leaving no room for protest.

Ryder looked back at the door nervously as his stomach drops.

There was no shaking the bad feeling he had.